The starting XI which were destined for greatness but failed miserably

Not everyone can be the next Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi, but Jesus Christ, if you’re on six figures a week at least make it look like you aren’t a three legged Bambi on ice. Some of these players looked destined for greatness, but ended up in a big old pile of irrelevancy. Shame.

Now, yes, this is potentially the most ridiculous formation in football history with something of a 2-5-3. To be honest, there’s just more hype surrounding wingers, midfielders and strikers. Hardly surprising.

Roy Carroll

Poor Roy. There aren't too many keepers that qualify for this one and it may be considered a tad harsh, but that top level status people thought he'd achieve was nothing more than a pipe dream. Everyone remember the United tenure? Yup.
Source: The Guardian

Titus Bramble

Titus Bramble wasn't exactly tipped as a world beater, but people thought the bloke could handle himself. Oh how wrong they were.
For every consistent game the man mountain had there were about six or seven shite ones. Fact.
Source: Sky Sports

Calum Davenport

Horrific injury and circumstances aside, Calum Davenport never quite managed to reach the big time. Well, in a literal sense he did, but it was pretty embarrassing viewing. Reality sucks sometimes.
Source: The Telegraph

Denilson

Yeah, sure, he was at Arsenal - but I'm fairly certain what he was doing resembled ice hockey more than football. The shithouse.
Source: Sky Sports

Anderson

You can just imagine a Coldplay montage when looking through Anderson's career.
"When you try your best but you don't succeed.."
Source: Daily Express

Wayne Routledge

Wayne Routledge is still around to this day so in some ways this isn't a flop, but things should've been oh so much greater for the bloke.
His natural flair seemed destined to take him all the way to the top, but clearly fate had different ideas. Or just karma, one of the two.
Source: Daily Mail

Theo Walcott

Oh Theo. Such promise and hope was on your shoulders upon being signed by Arsenal, and where did it all go.
I honestly want to know the answer to that question and most of the nation do aswell. Give us the last ten years back, please.
Source: Evening Standard

Francis Jeffers

Probably one of the most famous cases of "this really, really didn't work out". Good old Jeffers is the punchline of many jokes to this day regarding his shortcomings on the pitch, and that isn't likely to change any time soon.
Source: Arsenal

Luke Moore

Yeah, the ex-Villa and Swansea lad. Some say he still plays in the shadows, never to be seen. Or, maybe, for his local Sunday League side in the depths of Birmingham.
Source: Sky Sports

Freddy Adu

Who knows, maybe some of these let downs can reignite their careers. Maybe, just maybe, they can fulfil the potential that so many believed that had all along. Then again, probably not. Shit happens in this game.

Have a look at the 11 January transfer window Premier League bargains to be had…

Ross Barkley

The thing is, Barkley isn't actually a good footballer. But media hyperbole dictates that the Englishman is.
Koeman clearly isn't convinced, and has called the player out publicly.
Source: Twitter

Shinji Okazaki

N'Golo Kante is the missing link, apparently. But we are putting money on Okazaki's underrated work horse mentality being the missing ingredient, this season.
Completed 90 minutes just once in his last 10 games.
Can't see it taking too much £ to test Leicester's resolve.
Source: Twitter

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

During his time at Arsenal, the only thing that's got worse than Chambo's form, is his hair.
Source: Twitter

Anthony Martial

Somewhere inside the Frenchman, there's an unreal talent. But it won't come out under Mourinho's 'throwing under the bus' management style.
Source: Twitter

Memphis Depay

A lost boy in Manchester. But we are willing to bet you the last roast potato at Christmas dinner that Depay will thrive away from Old Trafford.
Source: Twitter

Daniel Sturridge

Wouldn't pass you the salt at the dinner table. But definitely would find the back of the net 20+ times a season.
Source: Twitter

Mamadou Sakho

Bit of a renegade. But much better than rumours of a move to West Brom.
Source: Twitter

Fabian Delph

There's always some weirdo out there who wants a pet snake?
Source: Twitter

Cesc Fabregas

I'm a 22-year-old sports journalist covering football, MMA, NFL, WWE and more. I'm a Wolves fan, because for some reason I enjoy misery and heartache season after season.
Forever dreaming of a team of Steve Bulls.